Sin so often seeks to do two things—express itself and excuse itself. Here’s an example: we’ve heard those stories in which an unbelieving or disobedient husband makes life miserable for his Christian wife. We’ve also heard the world’s counsel to those women—“You deserve better than this! Leave the bum! God doesn’t expect you to submit to him! Take the kids and move out!” Can you hear the appeal to sin in those recommendations? Express yourself. Excuse yourself.

The issue of authority and submission in the home—especially wives submitting to their husbands—is not appealing to our fallen culture. The world responds with ridicule, resistance and even rejection. Of course we expect those kinds of reactions from people hostile to divine authority; but what happens when the church falls prey to that mindset?

What makes a family work? Is it authority—a firm-ruling father who keeps the peace? Activity—weekly date nights and regular family outings? Availability—members who make time for one another? According to Scripture, a key ingredient for a successful family is submission. Society scoffs at the very mention of the word, but God places submission at the top of His list for a unified family. John MacArthur explains . . .

After God created the first couple and brought them together in the first marriage ceremony, there was perfect harmony, fellowship, and joy. Adam had a wife to fellowship with; the two of them exercised dominion together. Eve had her husband to protect, provide, and care for her. All was well in Eden, for the moment . . .

No sane Christian questions the origin of the family. The Bible lays it out before us in unambiguous terms. God created the family—period. But why? God answered that question in the Old Testament long before any New Testament writers took up their pen. To get the divine perspective on the family, we have to go back, way back, to the very beginning.

Where do you turn when your family is in trouble? Some confide in a friend; others call a marriage “expert,” like a pastor or counselor. Many people in the world consult a psychologist, only to come away with theories and five-step plans; or more commonly, they call a psychiatrist and get themselves a prescription.
God’s Word has a lot to say about the family, and it’ll get to the bottom of all your trouble. Listen as John MacArthur explains . . .

Although we’ve noticed the steady, pebble-by-pebble crumbling of the family for decades, we’re now watching the landslide. We live in an age where society is no longer content to simply ignore the sanctity of marriage and the family—it attacks it with a vengeance.

Today marks the launch of a brand new series on the Grace To You blog on the family. One of the reasons we extended the creation series over several months was due to the intensity of opposition to the biblical view of origins, not just by the world, but by members of the professing church. The Bible’s teaching on the family, closely related to the doctrine of creation, has likewise been attacked and subverted from the very beginning, since Genesis 3. John explains . . .

Among the many issues discussed in this creation series, one emerges as central—the final authority of God’s Word. Not only is God’s Word sufficient to answer our most challenging questions about origins, it is superior to every other explanation. When Scripture speaks, it speaks with the full weight of divine authority. Science, archeology, and any other system of study must bow the knee. Check out John’s article as he explains . . .